AUBURN — A longtime local police officer and detective has been chosen as Androscoggin County’s new chief deputy.

On Jan. 18, Sheriff Guy Desjardins plans to recommend hiring Nelson Peters Jr. to the Androscoggin County Commission, making the 67-year-old detective his fourth chief in five years.

“He’s a good fit,” said Desjardins, who picked Peters from a group of four applicants.

As second-in-command, the job touches all aspects of the department, from patrol and dispatching to operations inside the jail.

It’s been a tough to job to keep filled, though.

Sgt. Eric Samson has twice left the job, once over money and once over a disagreement with the sheriff. Michael Ward left in 2008 after only five months in the role. And Michael Lemay left last fall after he and Desjardins disagreed over the handling of a personal issue concerning a member of Lemay’s family.

Nelson, a former Lewiston city councilor, said he is not worried about the position’s turmoil. He has worked in the department for almost 10 years.

“I’ve done almost every job we have,” Peters said. He has worked on patrol, in the schools and in the jail. He said he plans few changes for the department. Rather, he wants to make sure that some of the good work in the department is recognized.

“I have a great deal of confidence in the sheriff,” he said. “And we’ve got a good bunch of men and women.”

Before coming to the county, Peters worked for the Lewiston Police Department for 15 years.

He was hired by Androscoggin County in 2002 to become the school resource officer at Leavitt Area High School in Turner. He went to work at the jail four years later when a grant ran out and the position was eliminated.

He was promoted to detective in April 2007.

Though pay for the chief deputy position has been a sore point for past candidates — the $43,000 annual salary is among the lowest for chief deputies in Maine — Peters said he will make almost what he makes in his current role. However, he has other income. Along with his wife, Francine, he owns Formal Image and Sun World in Lewiston.

“It’s a promotion,” he said. And he is nearing the end of his career. He said he plans to retire at the end of Desjardins’ term in office in December 2014.

Desjardins has made no public statement about whether he plans to seek a third term as sheriff.

Staff Writer Christopher Williams contributed to this report.

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